Treadle hook insert



April 25, 1967 c, c BUTLER TREADLE HOOK INSERT Filed Nov. 19, 1965 INVENTOR.

CHARLIE C. BUTLER A TTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,315,706 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 This invention relates to an insert for a metal hook to provide a nonmetallic surface adjacent a U-shaped portion of the hook.

As a matter of common knowledge to persons skilled in the art of textile looms, the connector device disposed between and connecting a jack stick and a treadle on a loom has to be repaired or replaced frequently. One of the main problems encountered in using a connectordevice, which includes a turnbuckle with a metal hook at one end for engaging the treadle, is the Wear of the metal hook and the metal treadle. The metal to metal contact between the hook and the treadle causes the treadle and especially, the metal hook to wear during the weaving operation due to the incessant raising and lowering of the harnesses. In addition to the cost of the hook, considerable down-time is incurred when the loom has to be shut down to replace a worn hook. An even greater cost is incurred when the treadle has to be repaired due to the difficulty of repairing such and the down-time incurred.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector device between and connecting a jack stick, and a treadle on a loom which avoids a metal to metal contact between the treadle and a hook portion of the connector so as to minimize wear of the hook and the treadle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and simple apparatus for repairing the U- shaped portion of a hook.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector device equipped with an insert constructed in accordance with the present invention disposed between and connecting a jack stick and a treadle on a loom,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the hook and the insert of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of FIG- URE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2.

The drawing illustrates a connector device disposed between and connecting a jack stick and a treadle on a loom having a turnbuckle with a metal hook at one end for engaging the treadle. An insert, generally designated at A, constructed of synthetic polymeric material is carried adjacent the inner surface of the metal hook. The insert has a medial portion B which engages the treadle. The medial portion has a first upwardly extending projection C adjacent one end thereof engaging a shank portion of the hook. The medial portion has a second upwardly extending projection D adjacent the other end thereof engaging a free-end of the hook. The upwardly extending projections are constructed to snugly engage the shank and the free-end of the hook, respectively. Flanges carried by the medial portion B and the upwardly extending projections C and D extend outwardly thereof toward the U-shaped portion of the book from the sides of the medial portion and the projections embracing the U-shaped portion of the hook and securing the insert on the hook. The medial portion, the projections, and the flanges, define a groove which is the complement of inner surface of the U-shaped portion of the hook. The freeend of the hook is spaced from the shank portion providing an opening large enough to permit passage of the insert. Thus, the insert can be passed through the openingand be secured on the U-shaped portion of the hook to provide a nonmetallic surface adjacent the U-shaped portion of said hook for avoiding wear on the hook and engaging surfaces.

The connector device, generally designated at 10, is disposed between and connects a jack stick 11 and a treadle 12 on a loom. The connector includes a saddle.

strap 13, which loops over the jack stick and is braided together below the jack stick to form a pair of loops 14 and-15. The upper loop 14 encircles the jack stick while the lower loop 15 is designed to receive a T-shaped bolt 16. The lower loop 15 has an aperture therein permitting the shank of the T-shaped bolt 16 to extend therethrough.

The shank of the T-shaped bolt threadably engages one end of a turnbuckle frame 17. A shank portion 18 of a metal hook 19 threadably engages the other end of the turnbuckle frame 17. The turnbuckle frame permits the connector to be adjustable in length.

The treadle 12 is provided with slots or grooves 20 for receiving the U-shaped portion 21 of the hook 19. Heretofore, the U-shaped portion of the hook engaged the treadle directly. The metal to metal contact between the metal book 19 and the treadle 20 caused the hook and the treadle to wear during the weaving operation due to the incessant raising and lowering of the harness thus requiring the hook 19 to be replaced. In order to replace the hook 19 the loom has to be shut down and the hook unscrewed from the turnbuckle frame 17. Such an operation is time consuming and expensive due to the down-town incurred and the cost of replacing the hook.

In the subject invention an insert A constructed of a synthetic polymeric material, such as nylon, is carried within the U-shaped portion 21 of the metal hook 19. Thus, the metal to metal contact between the treadle 12 and the hook 19 is eliminated. The insert has a medical portion B which engages the treadle 12 isolating the metal hook 19 from the metal treadle. The medial portion B has a first upwardly extending projection C adjacent one end thereof engaging the lower shank portion of the hook. The medial ortion has a second upwardly extending projection D adjacent the other end thereof engaging a free-end 22 of the book. The upwardly extending projections C and D are constructed to snugly engage the lower portion of the shank 18 and the free-end 22 of the hook. Flanges 23 carried by the medial portion B and the upwardly extending projections C and D extend outwardly therefrom toward the U-shaped portion 21 of the hook 19 from the sides of the medial portion B and the projections C and D. The flanges 23 partially encompass the U-shaped portion 21 of the hook 19 securing the insert A on the hook. It is noted that the medial portion B with the projections C and D, and the flanges 23, define a groove adjacent the outer surface of the insert which is the complement of the inner surface of the U-shaped portion 21 of the hook 19.

The free-end 22 of the hook is spaced from the shank portion providing an opening large enough to permit passage of the insert therethrough. Such enables the insert A to be replaced when it becomes worn or damaged. While the insert A may be replaced, the life of the insert is much greater than the life of the metal hook when there is metal to metal contact with the treadle. It is also pointed out that the insert A may be utilized with hooks that have already been worn and the insert may be installed without removing the metal hook 19 from the turnbuckle frame 17.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is "8 J for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is: In a connector device and the like disposed between and connecting a jack stick and a treadle on a loom having a turnbuckle with a metal hook at one end for engaging the treadle, the improvement including, an insert constructed of synthetic polymeric material carried adjacent the inner surface of the metal hook, said insert having a medial portion for engaging the treadle, said medial portion having a first upwardly extending projection-adjacent one end thereof engaging a shank portion of said hook, said medial portion having a second upwardly extending projection adjacent the other end thereof engaging a free-end of said hook, said upwardly extending projections being so constructed as to snugly engage the shank and the free-end of the hook, respectively, flanges carried by said medial portion and said upwardly extending projection extending outwardly thereof toward said U-shaped portion of said hook from the sides of said medial portion and said projections for embracing the U- V the hook to provide a nonmetallic surface adjacent the U-shaped portion of said hook for avoiding wear on the hook and engaging surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,406 2/1945 King 139-88 2,640,506 6/1953 Consoletti 139-88 2,911,685 11/1959 MacDonald 308-238 3,028,725 4/1962 Stevens 308-237 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

